US Youth Soccer a common thread in U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team World Cup roster

FRISCO, Texas (July 18, 2014) — U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team coach Michelle French has named the 21 players who will be on the roster for the 2014 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup, to be played Aug. 5-24 in Canada. In addition to being named to the United States roster, each of the athletes share a common thread in US Youth Soccer.

The roster of 21 includes 18 players who have been members of teams competing in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, including three — Carlyn Baldwin, Kaleigh Riehl and Rose Lavelle — who are members of teams competing in the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, the nation's original player identification program that has continued its tradition of elite competition and player development for more than 30 years, also has a large presence in the roster. Fifteen of the 21 players have participated in US Youth Soccer ODP at either the state, regional or national level.

The players wrap up a two-week camp on July 23 before the 2014 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup kicks off Aug. 5, when the U.S. plays its first group game against Germany at 7 p.m. ET in Edmonton. The U.S. will remain in Edmonton to take on Brazil on Aug. 8 at 10 p.m. ET before wrapping up group play at 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 12 against China PR in Moncton.

Lavelle, a veteran of US Youth Soccer ODP, the US Youth Soccer National League and US Youth Soccer National Championships series, was named the MVP at the 2014 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championships. She will be one of the many talented young players to represent the United States when the team steps onto the field in Canada.

“We have a good mixture of leadership, talent and great technical ability on all three lines,” French, a former US Youth Soccer player herself, said in the press release. “We have a lot of tactical understanding and creativity based on the way they read the game, and I see a lot of grit and bite in the way we defend. The combination of these factors gives us a very well-rounded team.”